Like its counterparts the
worldover, Pakistani film industry suffered a serious blow by the advent of VCR in the
middle of 1980s. Unlike these counterparts, however, the Pakistani film industry shows
less ability to benefit from the present revival due to lack of 'technically correct'
films and a sharp decline in annual production. The easy availability of videos of Indian
and English movies as well as an increasing penetration of foreign satellite channels pose
new threats to the local industry. The question is: Will the local industry be able to
compete in the years to come?

The Corporate Excellence Award instituted by MAP has provided
incentives to listed companies to adopt progressive management techniques and thus
optimize productivity. These companies serve as role models and inspire others to improve
their management practices.

The GoP has ultimately decided to intervene in cotton trade and
APTMA has been made part of the monitoring body. The purpose of intervention is said to be
an attempt to bail out growers but it is also against those spinners who had not imported
cotton. Import of nearly one million cotton bales, despite at a very high cost, has pushed
the local prices of cotton to a very low.

The international oil prices shot up from $10.50 in June 1999 to the
current level of $24 per barrel which may impair the government's calculations to pocket
about Rs60 billion as development surcharge on the retail price of POL products during the
current fiscal.